UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a statement calling for an "immediate end to all hostilities and provocations in order to prevent a new outbreak" in the Middle East following the escalation of the Israeli-Iranian conflict on Syrian soil.
In a statement, Guterres also called on the Security Council to consider the issue of Syria, which should lead to "a political solution" and to "assume its responsibilities" as set out in the Charter of the United Nations.
Today, none of the 15 members of the Security Council has been willing to call for an urgent convening of the House to discuss the unprecedented military conflict between Israel and Iran.
When asked by reporters about this issue, many diplomats (from Russia, France, Britain…) all answered: "No, for now". Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, whose country is not a member of the Security Council, said he had sent letters to the body as well as to the secretary-general, urging him to "condemn Iran's aggression." He also called on Iran to demand the withdrawal of its troops from Syria.
The European Union (EU) has said in a statement that it was "very concerned" about reports of Iranian strikes on Syrian territory against Israeli military positions, stressing that Israel had the right to defend itself.
A statement from European Union Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini called on all parties involved to "show restraint" and "avoid any escalation".
